General Motors is defending itself against 104 death and injury lawsuits brought on by those who blame the incidents on defects in company vehicles.
The Detroit automaker has received scrutiny all over the world over fatalities caused by potentially faulty ignition switches. At least 108 lawsuits are looking for class action status over fall car prices that are pending in federal and state courts, the automaker said in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday.
Recalls in the U.S. reached a record 26.9 million last year, according to Bloomberg. GM paid out more than $2.9 billion in 2014 on recalls and loaner vehicles after calling back 36 million vehicles to make repairs worldwide.
GM recalled 2.59 million vehicles last year over ignition switches in select vehicles that could slip out of the "run" position. The issue could shut off the engine and safety features, like airbags, when the vehicle was moving. At press time, 51 deaths have been officially linked to the switch issues.
"Such lawsuits and investigations could in the future result in the imposition of damages, substantial fines, civil lawsuits and criminal penalties," GM said in its filing. "We cannot currently estimate the potential liability, damages or range of potential loss as a result of the legal proceedings and governmental investigations."
GM is battling most of the lawsuits filed against the company so far, like 156 bundled together in a New York federal court. The automaker claims it isn't responsible for older vehicles made by its "bankrupt predecessor."
GM was bailed out of bankruptcy by U.S. and Canadian governments in 2009.
Twenty car-price lawsuits have been filed in Canada as well, according to GM.
Company shares rose 5.4 percent on Wednesday after GM reported a fourth-quarter profit that topped analysts' estimates. GM reported its fifth consecutive year of profit thanks to a net income of $2.8 billion.
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